Welcome 2012 Fall Fun Season

Hello Fall Fun Followers,
I am awaking from my long slumber a little late this year. I wish to share another great costume idea. The Ghost Rider is my son's favorite comic book. So we created a ghost rider costume with things around the house.


Ghost Rider makes great use of a mohawk.

My son was sporting a mohawk which added to the drama of the costume. I always have a large selection of makeup and colored hair spray. Black leather coat...check. Black jeans...check. Black leather gloves...check. Fake chain...check. Yes, I have a great fake chain in my Halloween Attic. The make up is a basic skull which you can find direction on how to do this in an earlier post on The Halloween Queen Blog. I added red, orange and yellow flames on his face around the eyes and above the cheek bones. Then I teased his hair and applied a large amount of heavy duty hairspray so it would stay up. Then sprayed stripes of red, orange, yellow and gold colored hairspray to get the flame effect. I always like face paint better than any mask. It is much safer for seeing where you are going. If you have sensitive skin be careful in what types of makeup you use. You may have to pay a little more for a professional brand but, if you want to be able to do face make up then it is worth it!
Happy Fall Celebrating!
The Halloween Queen

Reflective Light Up Halloween Signs

Here is a way to decorate your lawn and get attention!
Here is what signs look like in day time...

When the Halloween Queen is not the Halloween Queen...she is mild mannered artist, sign and graphics creator Jean Klinedinst and her business is http://www.jestek.net/  This year she has finally gotten to create a collections of signs that anyone can decorate their yard in a really cool way. Place orders by contacting her...contact info is on business web site. These signs can be customized to your needs or occasion.

At night they light up when lights hit them! Looks cool and saves electricity!!!
Call Jestek today to get more info on Reflective Light Up Yard Signs.

Halloween Queen and friend attend local Halloween Party!

Another night of fall fun!

Favorite Movie Characters and things around the house. Captain Jack

OK... everyone love Pirates of the Caribbean movies especially Captain Jack Sparrow. My son loved this character so much, I had to figure out a cost effective way to do this. Now my "around the house" when it comes to Halloween costumes is probably not the same as most people's around the house. I collect fabric, costume and costume pieces all the time and store them in my costume suitcases in the attic. At Walmart the week or two after Halloween is a great place to get cheap marked down Halloween items to stock up for next year. I did not purchase anything for this costume except for the dabloom beads on the head piece. I took a piece of red fabric left over from making the red vest pictured and created a head piece with the pony bead/dabloom strands sewn to it. I had an old beat up tricorner hat in my hat collection. Black witches wigs... I have a bunch! The white shirt is an old tux shirt. The tattered looking shirt happens to be a piece from a different pirate costume. I have all kinds of props like swords, so this was a no brainer. The belt is a hold out from the 80's and in my closet :-). Add some make up...using a little eye liner around the eyes, a goatee and mustache.  Put it all together and voila... you have Captain Jack Sparrow! Is this an exact copy of Captain Jack?...no but everyone knew who he was. So root around in your closets to see what costume pieces you can come up with before you go and spend money at the store. You can bet that your costume will be unique and no one else will have a costume exactly like yours.

Don't Lose Your Head!!!Another costume idea...The Head Hunter!



I cannot take full credit for the idea on this one. I saw many versions of this on the web. This is my version...The Head Hunter.



The Halloween Queen checks out her handywork!

Works best for someone on the short side. My son was about 10 years old in this one. We took a hiking backpack with a frame and mounted the upper part of the creature on it using a piece of wood we tiewrapped to the frame as a spine to keep the fellow upright. Newspaper stuffed the head and flannel shirt for the body. I sewed small loops on the gloves for The Head Hunters hands and bobbypinned to Skyler's hair. An over sized pair of pants and a couple hunter orange items completes the clothing of The Head Hunter. A little makeup on Skyler's face and neck completes the look. Just need to be careful on this one. His arms are inside the pants so he does not have a way to stop himself if he falls...so I stayed right with him until he was ready to take off the costume and have fun at the party playing games.

Could be impressive with a bigger person as the The head Hunter would look to be a giant!



More Ideas for Costumes

If you take the time to pull this one off...it can be a lot of fun fooling your friends. Dress as the opposite sex. My son had a great time with this a few years back. No one at his karate school knew who he was. We walked in separtely so we would not give it away!

Spiderella fooled everyone!

He was so happy when he won the most funny costume award! Well deserved! He is such a good sport!

The Halloween Queen Awakens for the 2011 Halloween Season

Hello Everyone. I have now come out of my yearly slumber for a season of Fall fun, crafts and games! I have some special projects in the works and will post them soon!
Check back!!

Happy Halloween 2010!!

The Halloween Queen would like to share her 2010 creature...Half Face.

I created this one in about 30 minutes before leaving for Trick or Treat time.

When I went to use my latex I discovered it was mostly dryed up...oh no!!! So I dropped back and started ripping the dryed up latex into small pieces... then I used spirit gum to attach them to my creature. I used eyeliner to outline the main features like the line down the "tear" and the bone structure of the skull. I then did the skull thing first(see previous posting on how to do this), then added color to the latex pieces and along the tear. My creature felt that the ear should be mostly blacked out and he wanted black wild hair. We use Got 2B Glued hair gel and black hair spray. I added a touch of white hair spray on the skull side to add some depth to the skull. Then I just added a bit of dark powered eye shadow to the skin side to create a distressed effect to eyes, cheek, temple and chin. I also added skin color to his lips to tone them down. Add a discounted costume we picked up at Walmart after Halloween last year and Viola!!! Half Face Creature!!!

The face you see most times in my creations is my wonderful son, Skyler. I am so thankful he lets me have fun playing Halloween with him! He loved this one this year so much! He told people at the houses we trick or treated at, that it was just a little shaving accident. He had so many compliments on how good he looked! He had a smile ear to ear the whole night.

Keep checking back. Over the next year I will add more ideas that I have done in the past so maybe you can find a costume or craft idea to use for yourself! It is a bunch of fun!

The most fun we have at Halloween time is going shopping in costume. This year we went to eat at a restaurant before trick or treat in costume...it is so much fun to see folks stop and look at your great creations.

Happy Halloween,
The Halloween Queen

Another Fun Leaf Activity- Leaf Pounding...and Flowers too!

Leaf and flower pounding is a very cool way to make some neat crafts or gifts. It can be very therapeutic to get your frustrations out too! Just do not do when you have a headache. In my humble opinion, ear protection would be recommended.

It is so easy that even small children can do this, have fun and be very successful.

I was amazed as to how many sites offer instruction on how to do this very cool art. Below I have links to a few, but there are more out there. There are a couple videos on YouTube for flower pounding as well.

Basically you need a piece of fabric or card stock to create your leaf/flower pounding art on, leaves and/or flowers, a hammer, a piece of wood to pound upon, & masking tape. Some of the artisans I have linked to use a few other tools that you can see on their link. For more details on how to do this neat craft go to the below links and select the style that suits you best or search the web for more ideas!

Happy Pounding!
The Halloween Queen

Leaf pounding with Bettye Kimbrell(pictured above):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmaQfMs-hBk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0oK1Ns1Wq8

Different style leaf pounding technique...
http://randomapplique.blogspot.com/2006/11/leaf-whapping.html

Flower Pounding- for summer or in off season if you buy from a florist:
http://www.hgtv.com/crafting/flower-pounding/index.html

Flower pounding to make greeting cards:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuPAMHFT9Pw

Leaf Printing- Great Fall Fun!! (Summer Fun Too!)

Depending on where you are in the country, your fall colors may already be on the ground. But in case you are in an area where the leaves are still available this is a fun activity to do with the family. You can also do this activity during the summer months when more variety of leaves are available.

You simply collect a fabric item to print on, some leaves, fabric paint, paint brushes, a brayer or rolling pin, wax paper, and newspapers. The trick to this is painting the back side of the leaf to get the veins to show nicely. A few tries might be needed to figure out the right amount of paint to put on the leaf.

Spread newspaper over your work area. Keep a clean area for your printed item as not to get paint on it by accident. Set up a different area where the leaf painting occurs. Paint the back of the leaf, place it painted side down onto fabric, cover with wax paper, have someone hold wax paper firmly in place and roll over leaf with a brayer or rolling pin. Carefully remove wax paper and leaf. Allow each leaf print to dry before adding new prints. You may use a hair dryer or heat gun to speed up the process.

Below is a beautiful example of what you can do. Go to this link http://www.skiptomylou.org/2008/11/04/leaf-prints/ for photos of step-by-step instructions.

Enjoy the Fall!
The Halloween Queen

Another Quicky Costume- Quick Ghoul

Here is another very easy quick idea. If you have a hooded robe, or even just a hoodie, this one works great! Just take black eyeliner and some black eyeshadow and you can do a quick free style ghoul. The sample above is one we did as a last minute rush to get to trick or treat. We used a grey hooded robe from a different costume. The lips have faded as this is a pic after trick or treat...but you get the idea.
If you have props like a plastic sickle or axe this just adds to the effect. Remember to be careful when carrying props while trick or treating. You do not wish to poke out another goul's eye. Safety first!
Have Fun!
The Halloween Queen

Need a costume quick? Try This!!

One of the easiest ways I have found to create a last minute quick impressive costume is to do a skull face and add any clothing or costumes you have lying around. I have created directions on how to do this to the right under "How to..."

You will see some examples of a few times we have used this easy way to make an impressive costume. All you need is a pencil eye liner, black and white clown make-up, make-up sponges, baby powder, a powder puff and craft or make-up brushes which you may already have.

Be sure to check and make sure your face can handle the make-up first. Some folks are sensitive to some make-up products. If you are sensitive you may want to invest in the higher end theatrical make-up from suppliers on the web. Be sure to have a jar of cold cream on hand...by far the best and quickest way to remove make-up without drying your skin out. Available at most drug stores.

I have also used clown costumes and was "Boney the Clown". The "Dead Cowboy" worked great for trick or treat with my son...no mask to get in the way and we used most of his own clothing, so it fit him just right, nothing to get tangled and tripped over.

Safety is a big concern for Halloween Festivities. Whether you are going out trick or treating or going to a party...costumes that fit well and face adornment that does not block your vision is important. If you practice your make-up skills, you can just skip the mask. It makes enjoying the festivities much better. Plus you will make a big impression!
Watch for more make-up tips in future postings.

Enjoy the Season!!
The Halloween Queen

Welcome Fall ... Welcome ALL!!!

This blog is dedicated to all things fall and fun. I am a graphic artist with much experience in designing costumes, makeup and general creativity. I will share some of my "secrets" here with you. If you are in the Red Lion PA Area and need help for your halloween costume or a costume any time just pop me an email to schedule an appointment. I have created many award winning costumes over the years.

Check out my customized graphics business web site to see what all I do in my "normal life"  http://www.jestek.net/

Costumes do not need to be commercially purchased to be a winner....many can be created from your and your friends closets OR from a thrift store. Make-up techniques can be learned, I will share some of these here. Just use your imagination.

Fun fall crafts and activities are cool too. I will share these too. So go ahead and throw a party...the season is right for fun.

Yours Truly,
The Halloween Queen